Meloon 1
Mr. Meloon
English 12
September8, 2010
“Senior Memory Book”
The purpose of this assignment is to polish your writing skills as well as to give you a special “souvenir” of your childhood and your transition into adulthood. In just a few years you will most likely be very different than you are now and your Memory Book will serve as a reminder of who you once were. Although it won’t be due until a couple of weeks before the end of the semester, you will have to begin working on it now to complete it on time and without rushing (with quality and care).
The final book will be presented to me in a scrap book, loose-leaf, three-ring binder or similar, professional looking medium. You should include pictures, drawings or other mementos. As with any assignment, the only request I have is that you make sure anything you include is appropriate for my eyes to see.
Be sure to check the rubric for the final Memory Book as well as the one for each individual chapter.
You may add chapters if you wish to include more information. You may also include subtopics under each chapter if you wish. This book is more for you than me (although I look forward to seeing the completed projects), so any other memories you would like to include are more than welcome. Your grade for each chapter will be based on completeness, creativity; and the quality and care that went into your writing.
If there is a chapter you feel is too personal to write about, please let me know as soon as possible. I have many other writing ideas we can substitute.
Grading
Each chapter is due on Friday (unless otherwise noted). Therefore, you will have an assignment due every week. You are seniors, you have a memory, and ergo you need to do a Senior Memory Book chapter every week.
+ = 100 (if it is on time)
= 80 (if it is on time)
- = 60 (if it is on time)
Each component will be graded out of 100 points. The final book will be graded out of 500 points. This means this project has a total of 1,800 points. It will hard to graduate while missing 1,800 points throughout the year and especially 500 points in the last marking period, so stay up with the deadlines and the work.
Make corrections in each component before the final draft.
Each week an individual chapter is late will lose ten percentage points! If you hand the paper in on Monday, it is down 10%. If you hand it in by the next Friday, it is 20%. If it is two Fridays late it is 30% and so on. If the chapter is so late it went into the previous marking period you cannot receive a grade on it, but you will need it for the completed Senior Memory Book.
Any final memory book that is incomplete will receive a much lower grade regardless of how much creativity was put into other aspects of the assignment. Any book that is handed in late will lose ten percentage points per day.
This book will include the following chapters:
Chapter 1:“Before There Was Me” Your parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family or anyone else that may have played a significant role in the life of your family.
Chapter 2:“Here I Come” The story of your birth.
Chapter 3:“The Earliest Years” Your earliest memories including people, places, events and all those things that your family relates to you about when you were little.
Chapter 4:“School Bells” Your early school years of K-2. Include thoughts on learning to read, special programs, events, field trips, teachers, and friends.
Chapter 5:“MoreSchool Bells” Grades 3-5
Chapter 6:“Hometown Tales” Describe your town, neighborhood, and community; tell stories of your role in town activities. Tell your story of moving around if applicable.
Chapter 7:“Puppy Love” Tell about your first boyfriend/girlfriend, or first crush.
Chapter 8:“Middle School” What was it like being the youngest in the high school and adapting to the “big kids,” new teachers, friends, activities, successes, setbacks, and heartbreaks.
Chapter 9:“Vacation” A memorable trip you took with family and/or friends, or a trip you would like to take some day.
Chapter 10:“High School” Your freshman, sophomore and junior years-include highlights, difficulties, triumphs, friends, teachers, coaches and family.
Chapter 11:“Senior Year” Your senior year thus far. High and low points, feelings, aspirations for the rest of the year, etc. Stories you don't want to forget.
Chapter 12:“Who am I? Where am I going?” Evaluate how all of the experiences of your life have influenced and molded you. What are your life goals? How do you plan to accomplish them?)
Epilogue: “If I Could Live My Life All Over Again...” Any changes in beliefs? Other plans for the future.
Senior Memory BookTopics and Schedule:
Meloon 1
Chapters:
____Chapter 1 “Before There Was Me”
____Chapter 2 “Here I Come”
____Chapter 3 “The Earliest Years”
____Chapter 4 “School Bells”
____Chapter 5 “MoreSchool Bells”
____Chapter 6 “Hometown Tales”
____Chapter 7 “Puppy Love”
____Chapter 8 “Middle School”
____Chapter 9 “Vacation”
____Chapter 10 “High School”
____Chapter 11 “Senior Year”
____Chapter 12 “Who am I? Where am I going?”
____Epilogue “If I Could Live My Life All Over Again...”
____Final Memory Book
Due Dates:
September10
September 17
September 24
October1
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29
November19
December3
December 10
December 17
December 23*
January14
Meloon 1
* = Thursday